P.O. BOX 1560, CORDOVA, ALASKA 99574 tel 907.424.3334 email [email protected] web COPPERRIVER.ORG

COPPER RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT SPRING 2018

Photo ©Patrick Endres Photo CR/PWS Marketing Assoc. FIRST COPPER RIVER Individually, tens of thousands of fishermen make up SALMON HARVESTERS’ the collection of Copper River “stakeholders.” The ROUNDTABLE term is defined as “anyone significantly affecting or Held at Alaska Board of Fish Meeting, December, 2017 affect by someone else’s decision-making authority” (Chevalier, 2001). Users fall into four groups of BY KRISTIN CARPENTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR fishermen for which the State of Alaska issues salmon permits in the Copper River watershed: “No shots were fired”— that’s how I described the first subsistence fishermen, personal use fishermen, sport Copper River Salmon Harvesters’ Roundtable meeting, fish anglers, and permit holders. held during the Alaska Board of Fish’s five-day regulatory meeting, to folks who wanted to know how it went. Altogether, 19 people representing salmon harvest That’s not the usual benchmark for meeting success, user groups, a mayor, a Board of Fish Commissioner, but according to a book called Crucial Conversations, Native Village of Eyak tribal council fish biologists, and this gathering met all the criteria for a tense situation: ADF&G fish biologists spent an evening together, and stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. all agreed that the dialogue was worthwhile and should continue. “This is one of the most productive meetings The resource at the center of this gathering is Chinook I’ve been to” commented Mark Somerville, the ADF&G salmon: for the past decade, Chinook (king) salmon Sportfish Biologist for the Copper Basin. In planning runs across the State of Alaska have been below for this meeting last fall, someone suggested we take average (Alaska Department of Fish & Game, ADF&G). two to three minutes for one person from each user Contention among user groups over who gets to harvest group to describe that . What was budgeted for and other salmon during periods of 15 minutes on the agenda lasted an hour and a half! decline consumes a lot of energy among the Copper But that speaks to the value of the exchange. River’s salmon harvest user groups. Borrowing heavily from the approach used by the Island Institute of Maine We plan to make the Roundtable an annual gathering and its work with the lobster industry, we proposed to at which dipnetters, sports fishing anglers, fish wheel host a forum that provides a venue for fishermen to operators, and commercial fishermen can meet in a share their observations of on-the-water conditions non-regulatory setting to ask the questions that matter and changes over time in a non-regulatory setting. The to them about the trends that affect all salmon user Island Institute makes a point of creating a setting for groups. We’ll include researchers or managers to make fishermen to talk with each other that is not dominated presentations in response to those questions, and work by management or scientists. to build relations among the user groups. LETTER FROM CRWP FOUNDING DIRECTOR RIKI OTT

Every watershed has its beginning story when Earth’s crust crumpled into vales and ridges, rain fell on the land and spring water found its way to the surface, and gravity guided the surface water back, eventually, to the sea.

So, too, does every watershed project have its beginning story when someone cares a “whole awful lot,” in the words of the Lorax, and an idea comes CRWP staff Kristin Carpenter, Christina Cinelli, Becky Clausen, and founder Riki Ott, summer, 2002, with sign painted by Jen-Ann Kirchmeier. to that person and is able to flourish, because the communities in the lucky watershed also care a whole awful lot. I asked: What about the Copper River delta instead? Greg said: “Where’s the Copper River Delta?” I replied: The Copper River lies in a lucky watershed. In summer That’s qualification number one: little known. “Tell me 1994, I was visiting my parents in Wauwatosa, more,” said Greg. Wisconsin, when Greg Septon, a friend of my father’s, dropped by. Dad suggested we all go out for lunch. As Sometime later, Greg said, “Where are we?” We had Greg and I set out together, he asked if I could help driven in a straight line for nearly 45 minutes! When him with a project. Greg was working with the Artists we finally arrived at the local restaurant near my for Nature Foundation based in the Netherlands, and parent’s home, Dad spotted us and called across the they wanted to do their first North American project room, “Where in the hell have you kids been?” – in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Hadn’t I been to the Refuge? Could I help by organizing ground The rest is history. Artists visited the delta in 1995 and logistics to support the visiting artists? 1997 and told the delta’s story through their work. As community interest grew, so did the hope that our My heart leaped. I probed: What were the vision for an intact watershed would take root. People qualifications for project selection? Greg explained: stepped up to take turns guiding the new watershed it had to be a little known region of international project, C.S. Mott Foundation stepped in with 4 importance to migrating wildlife that was threatened years of funding, and a new caring, competent leader by industrial development, and where the local people was emerging. It was a perfect time for me to step cared about the area and made a living in harmony with out. Thank you all, Copper River watershed stewards, the region’s natural world. The artists lent their support young and old, for taking care of something I still care by visiting the region, producing paintings, drawings, very much about. Thank you, Kristin, for your loving, prints and sculptures, and a coffee-table book. The art guiding hand and heart. Happy 20th birthday, Copper is a medium to draw attention to the region and the River Watershed Project. need to support the local communities that depend on sustaining the natural resources.

CRWP BOARD OF DIRECTORS CRWP STAFF Robin Mayo, Board Chair, Kenny Lake Dorne Hawxhurst, Cordova Kristin Carpenter, Executive Director Erica Thompson-Clark, Vice President, Cordova Caroline Ketron, Gakona Kate Morse, Program Director Alexis Cooper, Treasurer, Cordova Jackie McMahan, Gakona Chantel Caldwell, Invasive Plants Coordinator Nik Merlino, Secretary, McCarthy Pete Mickelson, Cordova Don Hofstetter, Invasive Plants Coordinator/Copper Basin Shae Bowman, Operations Manager CLASSROOM CURRENTS

The Copper River Stewardship Program (CRSP) is the foundation of our watershed estd 2009 education programming. Ten years ago we first joined with partners in the Copper Basin to create a watershed-wide program that connects up and downriver students through field-based adventure. Our goal was to engage youth in active explorations of their backyard to expand their awareness of the interconnectedness of all things, and to prepare them as the future leaders and caretakers of the Copper River watershed and beyond. Ten years later, this is what they have to say about those experiences.

“CRSP was an experience that put me right in that sweet spot where learning happens: on the edge of my comfort zone, yet still within safety; in unfamiliar surroundings, yet with a framework to get to know them; and where understanding comes from an appreciation of complexity. Learning how to be a steward of the land and water couldn’t be a more important endeavor for young people today, and experiencing these changing landscapes and listening to the people who care for and are nourished by these lands and waters is how to foster that stewardship.” DANI HESS 2009

“CRSP was definitely a formative experience that I am grateful to have had at that time in my life. It was really important that it happened at the beginning of my teenage years so that through high school and college I could continue to explore the interests that CRSP piqued in me. Some things that have continued to form since that trip: a deep care for the environment (I’ve actually adopted a zero waste life recently!), an interest in , a care for outdoor education (president of my university’s outdoor club!), and memories of joyful and hilarious times on the river with friends.” SHANNON LINDOW 2009

“The Copper River Stewardship Program (CRSP) was the first time I connected my passion for outdoor adventures with science, which helped me select a major that combined those two passions. I will be graduating this spring with a bachelor’s in Geography and plan on applying to the NOAA Corps to become an officer on a research vessel. The program also developed a deep interest in Alaska fisheries, which helped me seek a job on a drift boat in Bristol Bay and an exchange program to Norway to understand salmon .” TREVOR GRAMS 2011

“[The CRSP] really helped me understand the scope of the watershed as a natural resource. I think people downriver often get stuck thinking that the fish are managed for CRWP STAFF the commercial fishery, and often think only about their own profit and community. It’s Kristin Carpenter, Executive Director important to understand that fish support many communities in multiple ways. They feed Kate Morse, Program Director families and traditions further upriver than many of us in the Program had ever gone. The Chantel Caldwell, Invasive Plants Coordinator Stewardship Program is a powerful lesson in sharing resources, and understanding the Don Hofstetter, Invasive Plants Coordinator/Copper Basin watershed and its many connections. It also helped me understand how many organizations Shae Bowman, Operations Manager and people were actually connected to the watershed.” ANGIE KELLY 2010 Copper River Stewardship Program is a partnership between the Copper River Watershed Project, Prince William Sound Science Center, WISE, BLM, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. That makes salmon a quantifiable, market resource that our intact watershed provides. And like trees and other plants, ground water, soil, and wild game such as caribou, salmon are a renewable resource – they replenish their population every year.

Salmon can be considered an ecosystem service, defined as “benefits people obtain from ecosystems” (USDA Forest Service, Valuing Ecosystem Services). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a four-year United Nations assessment of the condition and trends of the world’s ecosystems, categorizes “ecosystem RICH WATERSHEDS, services” as: RICH COMMUNITIES • Provisioning services, or the provision of food, A Universal Challenge fresh water, fuel, fiber, and other goods; BY KRISTIN CARPENTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • Regulating services such as climate, water, and disease regulation as well as pollination; at the copper river watershed project, we talk often about the value of the Copper River watershed’s • Supporting services such as soil formation and salmon fisheries. Both in terms of employment and in nutrient cycling; and terms of revenue generated by the commercial harvest • Cultural services such as educational, aesthetic, of salmon, the figures are impressive: and cultural heritage values as well as recreation • Statewide, harvesting and processing and tourism. is the State’s fourth largest employment sector (Alaska Dept. of Labor, 2016); In its current, intact state, the Copper River watershed ticks off everything on that list. Beyond salmon and • Subsistence and sport fishermen on the their nutrient cycling from marine waters upper Copper River harvest over to fresh water streams, the benefits

200,000 salmon each year, es rc include providing fresh water to u with contributions to the so e B 5,000 watershed residents and Copper Basin economy R e l n 40,000 visitors annually, ra e estimated between $3 u fi t it flood control, agricultural - 5 million a s N lands with excellent (Ecotrust, 2009); Well- soil, and backcountry Water being Food & Land • Copper River Water hunting and recreation

salmon generate Strong lands – resource rich Soil between $20 - Ecosystem Economy watersheds can make Public 38 million in Air Services Health rich communities!

seafood sales of Land Policy sockeye, coho and Use Climate Polution Chinook salmon annually from the commercial salmon harvest (AK Dept. of Fish & Game).

D rivers of Change 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 FUNDERS $297,636 / 69% Alaska Conservation Foundation GRANT INCOME Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation $86,028 / 20% Alaska Department of Transportation & Public REVENUES CONTRIBUTIONS Facilities (in kind) $428,974 $26,445 / 6% Antioch International, Inc. (in kind) SPECIAL EVENTS Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, Inc. $118,565 / 4% Bureau of Land Management, partnership agreement OTHER Copper Valley Electric Association $151,665 / 35% Larry Lewis, Engineer (in kind) PROGRAM STAFF National Fish & Wildlife Foundation $54,098 / 12% North Pacific Research Board EXPENSES ADMIN. & FUNDRAISING $433, 571 U.S.D.A. Forest Service, $179,320 / 41% SRS Title II projects and partnership agreements PROGRAM SPECIFIC EXPENSES U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve $48,490 / 11% Note: CRWP funded accrued vacation SHARED OPERATING We’d like to recognize to the following business who liabilities which resulted in negative EXPENSES generously supported CRWP events and educational net income for 2017. programs with significant gifts in 2017. Please support these businesses that support sustainable economic development ASSETS in the Copper River region. Current Assets Checking/Savings 39,157. 70 WATERSHED STEWARDS, $500+ Accounts Receivable 56,687. 67 Other Current Assets 13,117.28 Total Current Assets 108,962.65

Fixed Assets 7,378. 32 Investment Reserve 52,837. 62

TOTAL ASSETS $ 169,178.59 MIDNIGHT SUN ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. AND FACILITY CONTRACTORS LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts Payable -753. 68 Credit Card 3,688. 91 Other Current Liabilities WILSON CONSTRUCTION Vacation Accrual 5,831. 15 TRIBUTARIES, $250 – 499 Deferred Revenue 12,406.60 Payroll Liabilities 594. 73 Sales Tax Payable 90.52 Total Liabilities 21,858. 23

Equity Retained Earnings 119,678. 15 KLAM/KCDV TR Net Assets Contributions 32,239.08 Net Income -4,596. 87 Total Equity 147,320. 36 RIVERSIDE INN & AIRBOAT TOURS TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY $ 169,178.59 HOW DO WE SUPPORT A HEALTHY WATERSHED ECONOMY?

$6,049,000 IN GRANT MAINTAIN HEALTHY FUNDS AWARDED SALMON HABITAT, for watershed-scale action! the backbone of watershed economies

CRWP • Surveyed 82 culverts and conducted 214 habitat surveys to prioritize fish passage improvement projects.

• Restored access to 11.43 miles of ENHANCE VISITORS’ upstream habitat through 8 culvert EXPERIENCES replacements. on the GROUND • Restore or build 5 recreational trails. • Collected 9,500 willow shoots for re-planting stream banks • Construction of salmon viewing platform on the Gulkana River. • Added 72.1 miles and 167.76 acres of salmon habitat to State of Alaska’s • Construct 5 tent platforms at Shelter Anadromous Waters Catalog, Cove in Cordova. statewide fish habitat inventory record. • Install 21 watershed-themed • Surveyed 810.1 acres for invasive interpretive signs throughout the plants and treated 263.31 acres, region. including 3,728 lbs pulled by volunteers at the annual Copper Basin Weed Smackdown. Steven Swartzbart on nearly completed Kristin Carpenter and Riki Ott Gulkana River salmon viewing platform, 2003. in Chitina, Alaska, ca. 1999.

CRWP

Cordova Tourism Plan facilitated by CRWP is adopted by City Council; Copper River Salmon Jam Festival Founding board incorporates partnership initiated by CRWP. Indicators of the Copper CRWP, founder Riki Ott is Fishing web recycling River Watershed report first staff person. program initiated produced

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 20 08

Summit Lake Trail re-route along Don’t Run Off Salmon Stormwater Fish Creek to reduce erosion in Pollution education begins creek and ATV stream crossings Salmon viewing platform constructed on Gulkana River, MP 190 Richardson Highway. Collect 3,000 willow shoots and recruit volunteers for first bank re-vegetation project on Eyak Lake, important sockeye and coho spawning system. FishWatch Planning Team oversees collection of baseline water quality and human use data around Copper River watershed, prioritizes sub-basins for vulnerability. HOW MANY PEOPLE HOW HAVE WE HAVE WE ENGAGED LEVERAGED THE in hands-on restoration activities? RESOURCES & EXPERTISE of the region to benefit the overall health of the watershed? ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS By building these watershed scale 806 (so far) and regional partnerships: Salmon Jam Festival HOW ARE WE PREPARING FishWatch water quality monitoring THE FUTURE LEADERS Cooperative Weed Management Area, Copper Basin and Cordova of the watershed? Salmon Blitz stream surveys Using 30 pairs of , we literally immerse them in TAPS citizen oversight group surrounding wetlands, creeks and ponds. Currently we Fish Passage prioritization & restoration are reaching approximately 310 students in the Copper Stormwater BMPs and education Basin and Cordova annually through 40 programs. Watershed Education Recycling CR Salmon Harvesters Roundtable 30 + 310 + 40 Copper Basin tourism planning WADERS STUDENTS PROGRAMS Odiak watershed restoration Eyak Lake Restoration Copper Basin interpretive sign production Becky Clausen training FishWatch volunteers, 2002. Stewardship students helping with Dusky Steven Swartzbart on nearly completed Canada goose nest island maintenance. Gulkana River salmon viewing platform, 2003. Becky Clausen, Andy Morse and volunteers working on Eyak Lake shoreline re-vegetation, 2005.

Copper River Stewardship program, initiated with Copper Basin partners, hosts 5 students from Basin and 5 students from Cordova on watershed exploration 10 day trip. Receive Landscape Stewardship Award from Public Lands Foundation. Install 8 watershed-theme interpretive signs throughout Copper Basin. Cooperative Weed Management Agreements initiated for Cordova and Copper Basin Salmon Blitz stream surveys throughout the watershed 20 08 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 and beyond Host first story circle in Kenny Lake and Slana to We want to hear help gather and share rich cultural history of the from you— First culvert Copper Basin. Culvert Mapper Database created send us your replacement for all culverts on fish streams in the watershed. ideas! CRWP begins awarding $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from Copper Basin and Cordova high schools. Middle school students Copper River Salmon nominate Odiak Pond to Alaska Anadromous Waters Catalog, Harvest Roundtable held leveraging funding for restoration work that continues today. with representatives from each salmon harvest user Hold workshops on citizen oversight for Trans-Alaska Pipeline group in the watershed. System (COTAPS), created akpipelinesafety.org web site. The organization gave birth after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. I remember the passion of founder, Riki Ott, to form an organization that would help protect the Copper River watershed. Her energy moved many people to assemble and make the dream come true. I ... remember the retreats and workshops that helped form the organization. The Foraker Group was a big influence in strategic planning. We would sit in a cheery room and Laurie Wolfe would lead us by brainstorming, hanging sheets of paper on the walls with our ideas. Board Retreat, Cordova 1999 I think we even played a game or two. It was an exciting time to be a part of a commitment to keep the watershed healthy.

Janelle Eklund, Kenny Lake, recreation planner (ret.) and community volunteer, Board member, 1998 – 2004

In the mid 90s, everybody in the watershed seemed to have an iron in the fire so to speak and a history to protect. I thought a data driven organization that FishWatch Planning did not have an iron in the fire or a history of use was needed. Data or studies Team, 2002 outside of agencies was not the norm. Alternate resource use and management was rarely spoken to on a community basis, it was clear to me that future planning needed on the ground information to effectively navigate oncoming community issues like school closures, outmigration and the like. My favorite memory was being called an unsuspecting U.N. dupe ... shades of the 70s when I was just a commie dupe. Board Retreat, Glennallen, 2013 Wilson Justin, Chistochina, Ahtna Native, past hunting guide and tribal council administrator, founding Board Member, 1998 – 2000

Being a Board member for Copper River Watershed Project was both a For me the board experience provided a tangible link to users and challenge and an honor. Board membership was challenging given the distances residents of the entire watershed. It was of great benefit to better and travel logistics to hold our regular meetings; but well worth the effort and understand how resources are viewed, utilized, and conserved by time, knowing that we shared a common goal of preserving and protecting the individuals throughout the watershed. While individual members of the fishing heritage of people in the Copper River watershed. We learned from the board may not have always agreed on the same approach towards a past experiences of others and aimed our collective sight at current and future given issue it provided a meaningful forum to have dialogue and better opportunities for maintaining and improving the health of the fisheries ecosystem. understand the differences and similarities of living within the Copper Being a Board member meant stepping up our ownership and responsibility for River watershed. our watershed. What a challenge and an honor! Cory Larson, Gakona, BLM Recreation Planner, Board Member, 2006 – 2011 Kari Rogers, Gakona, Wildlife Biologist, Board Member, 2004 - 2007 RIDGELINES: AROUND THE WATERSHED

ICE CAVE RESEARCH IN ALASKA BOARD OF FISH ASKS WISE LAUNCHES OWLS WRANGELL – ST. ELIAS FOR UPDATES TO 60 YEAR OLD Copper Valley students will have the NATIONAL PARK LAW: HB 199 AND STAND FOR chance to work toward careers in the Professor Andreas Pflitsch of Ruhr SALMON INITIATIVE outdoors while earning high school University in Germany recently gave a Salmon habitat regulation updates credit from Copper River School presentation in Copper Center about are moving forward on two tracks: District with the new Outdoor and his visits to several caves in the Copper Representative Louise Stutes, Chair of Wilderness Leadership Skills (OWLS) River watershed and in an abandoned Alaska’s House Fisheries Committee, program from Wrangell Institute for railroad tunnel in Keystone Canyon, has introduced HB 199 to add some Science and Environment (WISE.) A close to Valdez. Dr. Pflitsch looks at enforceable standards to the State’s backpacking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias factors that influence ice build up permitting process, and to create a National Park will start off the program, in caves such as air temperature, “major” and a “minor” track for permit and give students a chance to hone their humidity and airflow. Glacier caves applications from construction projects outdoor skills and get to know their provide a unique view into the complex that would change a salmon stream. team. The middle part of the summer interactions of the internal earth with The Stand for Salmon coalition is also will be time for OWLS students to the weather, and he hopes to establish working on getting similar language follow their passions, including assisting long-term data sets that can provide added to the statewide election ballot on WISE programs to gain work a baseline as the climate changes. for November, 2018. If the legislation experience, documenting their own Previous investigations of glacier is adopted first, the ballot initiative adventures, and job shadowing outdoor climatic conditions have focused becomes moot. While a bill can be professionals. In August, the OWLS mainly on a glacier’s surface, or on amended in the legislative process will collaborate as a leadership team to moulins leading to its interior. But to add flexibility, the ballot initiative plan a 3-4 day expedition of their own many glaciers have far-reaching cave language – if approved by voters – choosing. Contact: Mikaela Dalton, systems inside the ice. Dr. Pflitsch has stands for two years before it can be WISE, [email protected]. found that both geothermal activity modified. Both efforts are in response and airflow between openings at the to a letter from the State’s Board of glacier terminus and higher moulins Fish to the Legislature asking for cause drastic melting inside a glacier – updates to the 60 year old law that leading to significantly stronger melting requires the “proper protection of fish from the inside than observations at and game” but has no definition for the surface and models suggest. That that term. Learn more: akleg.gov and melting can cause unexpected glacier standforsalmon.org. collapse and glacial outburst flooding. THANK YOU, MEMBERS ANCESTORS’ LEGACY, Anne & John Herschleb Cheri & John Grocott Baja Taco $1000+ Dr. Phil Hess Dick & Kay Groff Dave & Laura Beam KINGFISHERS, $25-49 Ruth Oppedahl Denton & Tamara Hamby Teresa & Andy Benson Ron Andersen Bill & Marion Alexander Brittany Blain-Roth & Brett Roth Alyeska Pipeline Service Peter & Tanya Johnson Kent & Lynda Hamby Kris Anderson Vicki & Greg Hamm Paul Boos & Janelle Eklund Mike Babic Company Curtis H. Jones, Jr. Jim Bovard KLAM/KCDV Stormy & Mary Haught Jeff Bailey & Helen Howarth American Laurie & Bruce Hauptli Shae Bowman & Joe Hamm Karl Becker & Nancy Bird Mike Mahoney Mimi & Tim Briggs Company Jeff Hawley & Nancy Peterson Andres Benitez Ospina Donna McBain Evans Brian Brockel Arthur J. Donald Family Bruce & Carol Hazeltine Dan Bilderback & Christine Sager & Sam Evans Bruce & Karen Butters Mark & Janet Bloch Foundation Diane & Kent Herschleb Dr. Rob Campbell Gabe McMahan Dr. Donald & Louise Heyneman Katy Boehm Allison & Chris Bovard Cliff Eames & Ruth McHenry Barbara Cellarius Alys Bowman Diane & Mark Colleran Kirk Hoessle & Gabrielle Markel John Cholish III Nicholas Merlino Meg Jensen & Mike McQueen Tyler Bowman Colby & Jeremy Doyle Yoke-sim Choong Stan Bradshaw Pamela Moe Cynthia Jones & Phil Oman Bill and Diane Cobb Ezekiel Brown John & Liz Garner Diane & Greg Morgan Patti Kallander Susanna Colloredo-Mansfeld Dr. Elizabeth McLoughlin Angela & Brian Butler Mary Jane & Alan Morse Ray & Linda Kelley Joe and Belen Cook Craig Campomizzi Jim & Martha Hutchison Kate & Andy Morse Caroline Ketron Erin Cooper & Sean Meade Danny & Kristin Carpenter Connie & Bill Jones Eric Manzer & Molly Mulvaney Cathy & Fred Keuthen Cordova Drug Brian Charlton Curt & Betty Jones NAPA/ Anchor Auto Iyad & Carol Khalaf Peyton Coyner Erica & Dan Clark Marine Inc Doug Landgraf Arne Erickson Alyssa Kleissler Bill Leighty & Micah Ess & Michelle Dockins Nancy Waterman Kelly Neuman Tim Landis Pere Davison Laura’s Liquor Shoppe Gregory Evershed Judy & John Day Brian Kovol Becky Nourse Michael Ferraro Bill Leighty & Nancy Waterman John Egger Dr. Oliver & Eve Osborn First National Bank Alaska Riki Ott Bill & Renee Lindow Forget Me Not Fabric Cece Stack & Britt Pedicord Perkins Auto Repair Mark and Cindy Frohnapfel Signe & Jim Fritsch Riverside Inn & Childs Glacier Ian Lindsay Haley Gill Russell & Joan Smith Becci & Hamilton Long Stephanie Golden Tours Shawn Gilman Chris & Leah Grey Jim Staszewski McCarthy River Tours Robert Glennon Arlene & Danny Rosenkrans and Outfitters Tom Haddock Lorna Stern Toni Godes David & Judy Heller Dan & Monica Ryan Sally McGuire Kurt Goetzinger Seafoods David & Darcy Saiget Todd Hess Violet & Joe Whaley Dan McIntosh Kristen Gorman Sarah Hoepfner Shoreside Petroleum Claudia Hartley Charles Wilson Johnny & Johana McMahan Teresa & Jim Holley Kate & Reid Smith Virginia & Jack Miller Phil & Audrey Huffman Wilson Construction Mark Johns Brad & Denise Stern Debra Miller D.M.D. Margaret Hunt Kara Johnson Terry & Ann Talcott Bill Mohrwinkel & Carrie Klein Dave & Annette Janka Kinsey Justa WATERSHED Lisa & David Totemoff Howard Mozen & Julie Jessen Viktoria Kirillova STEWARDS, $500-999 Cliff Ward Elizabeth Schafer Tim Joyce Knot Crazy! Keri & Vince Bailey MTI Adventurewear Jim Kassis Les & Joan Larson Eric & Janice Warga Kendra’s Kreations Dr. James & Katie Nelson Robin Mayo William Beattie & Evonette Charlotte & Lance Westing Adam Kenyon Aponte-Beattie New North Consulting, LLC David McLaughlin Alyssa Kleissler & Curtis Herschleb Corinne Mcvee Phil & Rich Blumstein-Ervin WRANGELL PEAKS Mitch & Gail Nowicki Rodger & Gerri Koechling Orca Adventure Lodge Terry & Carol Merritt Karen Hyer & Ken Carlson CIRCLE, $100-249 R.J. & Barclay Kopchak Mike Anderson Pottery Copper River Seafoods Luca & Chantel Adelfio Peterson Welding & Machine Ben & Kaitlin Kramer Michele & Jeff Qualls Marleen Moffitt Alaska Glacial Mud Pete Kramer Amy O’Neill-Houck Linda Crider Reluctant Inn Alaska Marine Lines Tom McGann & Sue Laird Linden O’Toole Drifters Fish Laura & Neal Resnick Ray Landgraf Stuart & Margery Elsberg Thomasina Andersen Glen Park Kristy Andrews Jonathan Riehle & Liz & Bill Larzelere Pet Projects LFS Marine Supplies David & Bootslyn Roemhildt Vicki & Jerry Blackler Angela Bohmann Shauna Potocky Doug Fulton Larry Rinder Sue Kesti & Dan Logan Lynn and Carol Potter A Rogue’s Garden Kevin & Suzanne McCarthy Deirdre Henderson Auklet Charter Services Rich Rogers Frederic Reid Bill & Mary Earl Rogers Molly McCormick Sarah Robinson & Chris Arp Ken Hodges Carroll Barclay Caitlin McKinstry Marie & Charles Hoffman Dr. Howard & Jean Baumann Thomas Rohweder Shags Hair Salon Hugh Rose Kate McLaughlin Heidi Sheldon Robin & Skip Jensen Jackie & Bryan McMahan Dan Hull & Nancy Pease David Rosenthal Dick & Sue Shellhorn Chris & Mimi Beck Julia McMahon Gary & Cynthia Jacobs Elizabeth Schafer Melissa Sikes Jack & Lynn Loacker Elinor Beck Kim Menster Trey Simmons April & Robert Beedle Beth & Rich Schluter Steve Moffitt Northern Fish Alaska Cathy & Dixon Sherman Robert & Chrissy Skorkowsky Bob & Joanie Behrends Elizabeth Moohe Jed Smith Ocean Beauty Seafoods Judy & Mark Berger Silver Fox Jewelry Michelle Hahn O’Leary & Eileen & Andy Simons Dana & Anita Smyke David Reiser Laurie Berger & John Jenkins Andrew Smallwood Jessica Speed Dawn & Jeff Smallwood Specialty Imports Mary Anne & Nancy Bishop Pam Ore Tazlina River Trading Post Bert Stammerjohan & David Blount Jennifer Sutton & Todd Smith Beth Poole Chistochina Bed and Breakfast John & Patty Bodner Wayne & Diann Smith Rich & Laura Pribyl David and Chris VanCleve Liz Senear Monika Reghetti Dr. Chris & John Booren Cece Stack & Britt Pedicord Mae Vansant Triton Foundation Cathy & Micah Renfeldt Tim Bowman & Judy Engh Sandra & Rich Staples Linda & Henry Wall Wells Fargo Bank Alaska Julie & Brad Reynolds Jenny Brandt Jim Staszewski Gay & David Wellman Rocky Stone Rob’s Woodcraft Amanda & James Wiese Gabrielle Brown Randy & Darlene Robertson TRIBUTARIES, $250-499 Sharon Brumbley Jim Stratton John Page Williams ACE Hardware/Cordova Karen & Paul Swartzbart Elizabeth & Jim Robinson Bonnie Lembo & Robert Bundy Al Rule & Jane Browning Tom Douglas Restaurants Alaska Railroad Corporation Wade Buscher Alex & Tamara Russin SUBSISTENCE LIVING, Rich & Shannon Alloway Jim & Marilyn Chu Mark Vail Brian & Vera Rutzer Andrew Morin $10-24 John Myers Carol Bailey & Dr. Steve Becky Clausen & Dirk Lang Gonzalo Villalon Diana & Raymond Schaney Dave & Sarah Abbott Paul & Mary Newcome Seth Walker & Emerald Bogue Carla Bloomquist Medwell Beth & Al Clayton Clair & Steffan Scribner Ruby & Cody Oatman David Hartley & Helen Weagraff Jake Borst Amy Bernard & Kirk Larsen Rich & Debbie Collins Seaman’s Hardware Store Sarah & Stephen Phillips Barb & Bill Bryson Copper Oar Rafting Mike Webber & Katrina Hoffman Judy Shaw Bob Ralphs Tim Brabets Carlos Comparan Bob & Dotty Widmann Dave Siegal Pete Rand Debbie & Dino Ciabattoni Copper Valley IGA Copper River Record John & Kate Williams Matt Sloat Robert Scribner Susan Clausen Cordova Outboard Shelly Crowe Dave & Tanya Zastrow Dustin Solberg & Ann Harding Lori & Rob Van Sleet Andy Craig and Seawan Nick Docken & Lisa Kennedy Alexis Cooper Carla & Mark Somerville Gehlbach Katrina Hoffman & Mike Webber Rachel Ertz Cordova Telephone Cooperative John Stack & Barbara Solomon AnnaMarie Davis Jim & Maria Wessel Melissa & Jason Gabrielson Cordova Wireless Violet & Joe Whaley Thea Thomas Heidi Hatcher Communications Mark Heidbrink & Becca Dodge Sarah Unknown Andra & Nathan Doll Bob & Dotty Widmann Jim Jachetta Currant Ridge Cabins Barbara Vaile Kathleen & Chris Jones Sue Farzan John & Kate Williams G. Warren & Donna Elliott Kirsten Valentine Jared and Vivian Kennedy Carole Fisher Rick Van De Poll Marita Kleissler Tony Gasbarro Forest Fusion RAVEN’S CLAN, $50-99 Lilly Goodman & Michael Allwright Danielle Verna Kitty LaBounty Janet & Donald Groschel Tom Lanini Rick & Cindy Fox Lee Rolfe & Tony Angell Whiskey Ridge Trading Co. Mary & Steve Hall Mikie McHone Sandra Friendshuh Michael Ausman Marissa Wilson Harborside Pizza Pete Mickelson Glennallen Rustic Resort B&B Heidi Babic Yang Wren Art Jeff Guard & Dorne Hawxhurst Glennallen True Value Henry and Marcia Milette Alan & Diann Bailey Larey & Lisa Miyatake amount of time needed for salmon egg incubation. CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS Scientists anticipate a four to eight month decrease in incubation time by 2100. This change could lead to ON SALMON STREAMS earlier emergence, or later spawn timing, which may Connectivity is a Key Buffer affect salmon survival and the availability of salmon to BY CHANTEL CALDWELL consumers, including fishermen. INVASIVE PLANTS PROGRAM MANAGER Scour is also a concern for salmon bearing streams. when people think about alaska, wild Increased winter precipitation will arrive to much of landscapes, wild berries, and wild salmon probably southcentral Alaska in the form of rain, due to average come to mind. Many Alaskans rely on and appreciate winter temperatures hovering around freezing. Frequent these natural landscapes for harvest and subsistence winter rain events will lead to higher stream discharge living, so the impacts of climate change are a cause and more flood events. Floods can scour gravel and of concern. Alaskans from Utqiaġvik (north slope) to salmon eggs, particularly in streams where roads or dikes Akutan (Aleutian islands) have noted changes in the prevent water from spreading out on the floodplain. ecosystem due to climate change, including changes in seasonal ice cover, receding glaciers, and alterations to For all the wild Alaska salmon lovers out there, hope wildlife migration patterns. is not lost! Studies conducted in coastal Alaska have shown climate change will not affect all streams equally. The magnitude of climate change will be greater at Streams that have groundwater influence will show northern latitudes. Rising temperatures will shorten less fluctuation as air temperatures rise. Streams that the duration of winter and dramatically increase stream have an undisturbed floodplain, allowing excess water water temperatures, affecting incubating salmon eggs. to leave the stream channel, will see less scouring When discussing climate change impacts to coastal during flood events. Overall, we can limit the impacts of streams and salmon populations, two primary concerns climate change by keeping an intact, diverse ecosystem. are raised: water temperature, and scour (flushing Here at the CRWP, we continue to work on maintaining large volumes of stream gravel). Models predict higher an intact watershed and restoring connectivity in year-round water temperatures for southcentral stream ecosystems where needed by removing old Alaska, which will have a direct impact on salmon culverts and replacing them with fish-friendly culverts, egg development. Seemingly small changes in winter allowing more natural stream flow and flood capacity water temperature will substantially decrease the while providing salmon access to spawning habitat.

Teal Barmore for the Prince William Sound Science Center, and Eccles Creek Culvert replacement construction, photo by Milo Burcham P.O. BOX 1560, CORDOVA, ALASKA 99574 tel 907.424.3334 email [email protected] web COPPERRIVER.ORG

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*** TO inside *** * Salmon Harvesters Roundtable * Rich watersheds COPPER RIVER RIVER COPPER PROJECT WATERSHED * 2017 annual report * Climate change & salmon stream connectivity SPRING 2018 SPRING

CRWP MISSION The Copper River Watershed Project promotes a salmon-rich, intact watershed and culturally diverse communities by forming partnerships for watershed-scale planning and projects.

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CHISTOCHINA, ALASKA In 2000, we joined in the support of the Copper River Watershed Project. We continue to support and believe in the program. CRWP helps to make our younger WHY WE SUPPORT CRWP generation aware of the importance of protecting our streams and lakes that will keep our land healthy and sustainable. The Copper River watershed is a majestic place but everyone must help in keeping it so. We will do our part to promote this program and ask that everyone helps!